metadata
noun
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How Metadata Was Formed
It's easy to find data on the source of "metadata": the word was formed by combining "data" with "meta-," which means "transcending" and is often used to describe a new but related discipline designed to deal critically with the original one. "Meta-" was first used in that way in "metaphysics" and has been extended to a number of other disciplines, giving us such words as "metapsychology" and "metamathematics." "Metadata" takes the "transcending" aspect a step further, applying it to the concept of pure information instead of a discipline. "Metadata" is a fairly new word (it appeared in the latter half of the 20th century), whereas "data" can be traced back to the middle of the 17th century.
Examples of metadata in a Sentence
Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
In May 2023, Chen’s wife sent him additional photos, the metadata corresponding with a creation date of May 3, 2023, in and around the Navy Recruiting Station Alhambra.
—Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 1 July 2025
The malware then decrypts a configuration file from a remote server and begins uploading images, device metadata, and identifiers.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
That metadata then flows into a robust toolset for organizing, managing, and preparing collections for either long-term preservation through Portico or for broader access via the JSTOR platform.
—Sara Ivry, JSTOR Daily, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for metadata
Cite this Entry
“Metadata.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metadata. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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